June 28, 2014
A special Cultural Day was held at Murgon State School on Friday to mark the official dedication of the school’s Parent Group Building to two great local men: the late Joe Button and his mate, former Murgon mayor Bill Roberts.
Both men were ex-students at Murgon State School – a long time ago! – and both went on to become community leaders.
The ceremony featured a mixture of indigenous and non-indigenous themes.
Students performed a mini-corroboree with traditional dancing and the Murgon State School Concert Band played several numbers.
South Burnett councillor Kathy Duff unveiled the dedication plaque bearing the two men’s names.
Parent Liaison Officer Vera Sullivan, the daughter of Joe, said her father would have been proud and honoured to have his name beside Bill’s on the plaque.
She said Joe and Bill, 89, worked together and would visit each others’ homes for tea and a chat.
“He’d love this because Bill was a great friend,” Vera said.
“They were like brothers and Dad got on really well with our principal Pam and the teachers,” she said.
“He’d come and tell the children stories.”
Joe wasn’t able to have much schooling of his own because he was sent to work as a boy on nearby stations and the railway, but he made sure every one of his 13 children went to school.
“He’d tell all the parents today that they should send their children every day to school; it’s a must,” Vera said.
“He believed the only way to defeat racism and prejudice was to become educated.”
Murgon State School Principal Pamela O’Loughlin said the school decided to dedicate the parents meeting room to a non-indigenous and indigenous person because “that’s who we are”.
“We work together and we get on together,” she said.
The school holds parent gatherings on the second Tuesday of every month. Discussions are held with staff and the principal over a cup of tea and tucker and allow parents to contribute their ideas.
– by Anne Miller and Marcus Priaulx
(Photo: Marcus Priaulx)
